Bill Would Force Army to Halt ACFT Until It Can Study Impacts

I think everyone can agree the APFT didn't really measure fitness much. I don't see much disagreement there. But - the Army is way too hard pressed to rush this test out when it hasn't even been fully tested. That's my issue. Then add in the methodology used is based on a 24 year old male? Then add in that the study by the Army used only 16 women with an average of 23...

At 23 I was in much better shape than I am now. But the Army has worn me down physically. I had to get a permanent profile for the run 4 years ago because my knees just are shot and I honestly don't know what the deal is with them. I have had one MRI when I first hurt the right one - and then I constantly get from doctors since then "it's patellar femoral syndrome. We don't need anymore MRIs just do PT." Well now it's both knees. And PT has not done anything. At any base I've been.

Back in April I saw this article: https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2020/04/27/assessing_the_kettlebell_one_arm_long_cycle_for_the_us_army_physical_fitness_test_115229.html

This seems like something that should be looked into. It can't hurt - and then you maybe accurately measure fitness and endurance. There's not much equipment needed - and it's equipment any unit can get and you can do it deployed or anywhere.

It's just ridiculous that the ACFT is the sword the Army wants to die on. It really is. If they truly want a "fitter" force, then they need to find something that actually makes us fit. That means also revamping the ABCP from the antiquated system we use now. Actually invest in our health and invest in the investment that we are for them.

I think the APFT is outdated and not relevant, I have never really felt it was. I agree that we need a new system to determine physical fitness, but I also think the grading scale needs to be weighted like the APFT. There is nothing saying women and men can not compete on the same level for everything, but there is also the issue of age. I can tell you as a 38 year old, I can not run like I did 20 years ago, nor can I lift like I did, or push like I did. I can however still shoot expert, master my MOS and pass all standards... so why put something in place that makes people that are proficient in the jobs, all of a sudden sub par soldiers that get flagged... makes no sense to me. It is like the ACFT is 80% there and just needs to get the last bit of corners ironed out. With that said, if it does not change and this is the new standard... I will find a way to get my old ass up there...

I want some form of the ACFT. But if this one doesn’t make the most sense then we need to find what does.